TASO - BaseballHouston Chapter

Four – Umpire Mechanics

NFHS

Special thanks to the Austin Chapter

The objectives of 4-umpire mechanics

• Have an umpire at every base or close to every play

• Try to keep one umpire AHEAD of the lead runner

• If possible, “box” the runner between three umpires

D A

Field UmpirePositions Left-Handed

battersRight-Handed

battersEE

AD

BC

Umpire PositionsNO Runners

E

Umpire PositionsRunner on First

Position to get a view of the pitcher off the left shoulder after the runners primary lead

Umpire PositionsRunners on

First & Second

Umpire PositionsRunners on First & Third

Umpire PositionsBases Loaded

Umpire PositionsRunner on Second

Umpire PositionsRunners on

Second & Third

ANYTIME there is a runner on

1st or 2nd ……..

U3 will be INSIDE (in B or C)

Umpire PositionsRunner on Third

If U3 goes out there will be a rotation

With NO RUNNERS or a Runner on 3rd ONLY

U3 will be in E

CHECK SWINGS

• Go to the “Open” umpire

– U2 for RIGHT handed batters

– U4 for LEFT handed batters

Fly Ball Coverage

Someone goes out on EVERY fly ball ------Except for obvious

‘cans of corn’

If you GO OUT

You STAY OUT

Fly Ball CoverageU3 is OUT(in E or G)

Fly Ball CoverageU3 is IN

(in F)

Fly Ball CoverageWhen U3 is inside (in B or C)

He STAYS inside

U3 does NOT go out for a fly ball, leave that to U2 and U4

INFIELDCatch / No Catch

U3 is OUT(in E)

P

SS

3B

2B

1B

INFIELDCatch / No Catch

U3 is IN(in B or C)

P

SS

3B

2B

1B

Fair / FoulCoverage

Positioning for calling plays at

1st Base

When there is a possible play at

1st Base

Clean base hit to outfield……

watch runner touch first, then rotate Home

PickoffPlays

“SLIDE” Come in and make

your pivotReverse Rotation

Positioning for calling plays at

2nd Base

Runner advancing from 1st base

Runner returning to

2nd base

Positioning for calling plays at

3rd Base

PickoffPlays

All plays at 3rd on

runners after base hit

U3 is the “KEY”for rotation when

U3 is OUT (E)

U4 is the “KEY”for rotation when

U3 is IN(B or C)

If U4 goes out there will be a rotation\reverse rotation

No RunnersBase Hit

No RunnersHit to Infield

If ANY umpire goes out on a fly ball………

Revert to THREE-UMPIRE Mechanics

No RunnersU3 goes OUT

No RunnersU2 goes OUT

No RunnersU4 goes OUT

Runner on 1stU2 goes OUT

Runner on 1stU4 goes OUT

Runner on 3rd

Fly Ball to Left – less than 2 outs

Use 3rd base side whenever there is a runner on 3rd only

Runner on 3rd

Fly Ball to Center – less than 2 outs

No Matter What Happens…..or Who misses a rotation

FILL THE HOLE !!!We can talk about missed coverage later……….but

SOMEONE has to MAKE THE CALL